Articles of Interest

Understanding Palliative In-Home Care

It can be incredibly difficult to watch a loved one struggle with the affects of aging or to live with a chronic health concern. In over twenty-years of serving America’s seniors through our in-home care programs, Visiting Angels caregivers have seen the emotional toll this can take on families first-hand. This is part of why we’re so committed to providing seniors with compassionate palliative in-home care.

If you have a loved one experiencing pain or discomfort due to a serious illness, you may wish to learn more about palliative in-home care. To help, we’ve put together this short guide explaining what palliative in-home care is, how it can help, and when it should be considered.

What is Palliative In-Home Care?

While many often think of palliative care as hospice care, they are not the same. Hospice care provides assistance for those living with a terminal illness who have a life expectancy of six months or less. Palliative in-home care provides seniors with support and assistance for a wide range of needs regardless of life expectancy. There are three main characteristics to palliative in-home care programs.

Palliative in home care…

…is for seniors who need assistance due to aging or a chronic care concern

…provides physical, emotional, spiritual, and social care

…is delivered at home and is non-medical in nature

How Can This Type of Care Help?

If your loved one is coping with a chronic illness or simply dealing with the effects of aging, palliative care provides support for a wide range of activities from preparing meals to hygiene assistance. Palliative in-home care can make a world of difference by enriching the lives of seniors. Also, it is important to keep in mind that palliative in-home care doesn’t just help your loved one. This kind of care also provides you and other members of your family with much needed respite and support. It can be easy when caring for a loved one to forget to care for yourself, and having a helping hand around can give you the chance to breathe and recuperate.

When to Consider Palliative In-Home Care

There is a lot to consider before choosing palliative in-home care. Most important is the decision between medical and non-medical care. If your loved one’s doctor believes that medical care is necessary, then palliative in-home care might not be the right choice. On the other hand, if your loved one wishes to receive care in the comfort of home, then in-home care services can provide valuable assistance.

If you think that palliative in-home care may be right for your loved one, give your local Visiting Angels office a call. Our care experts can help guide you through setting up care, offering compassion, kindness, and support for you, your family, and your loved one.

Each Visiting Angels agency is a franchise that is independently owned and operated. The Franchisor, Living Assistance Services Inc., does not control or manage the day to day business operations of any Visiting Angels franchised agency.

Each Visiting Angels agency is a franchise that is independently owned and operated.The Franchisor, Living Assistance Services Inc., does not control or manage the day to day business operations of any Visiting Angels franchised agency.